I extend a huge thank you to firefighters, emergency and essential services, and volunteers for your dedication and courage over an extended period of time to help our communities, including my own. Since September last year various parts of Australia has been affected by bushfires of vastness and intensity never before experienced; now floods, hailstones - and communities rallied. Months ago the world looked at Australia and what was happening to its people, animals, plants, waterways and offered support and practical assistance - for that, thank you to you also.

Many stories are being told of tragedy, fear, that sliver of hope realised, tenderness, and even laughter and joyful moments in the midst of despair. Thoughts of a Black Summer, the summer that wasn’t, circulate and press upon memory. All have a story of impact. Some seek solitude to work out what to do next when everything seems lost or changed; others write, paint, listen to or play music or sing; some people garden - tilling the soil in one's own yard, or replanting for the future. While for others being involved with community assistance groups such as Blazeaid, and sewing pouches for animal rescue is what matters and gives purpose once again.

Emotions raw of survival, of loss, of friendship and community, of a future unknown, of counting your blessings – I hope that everyone is getting the support and comfort in ways that will help you, your loved ones, friends, and community.

Electricity is limited & intermittent, but as the Moruya Hospital needs grid-connection (generator only had about a day's diesel left) the electricians and others did a fantastic job of getting services working again. Moruya Evacuation Centre allowed charging of phones or devices to enable communications and this also helps put less strain on 'find people' and what's happening where' websites. The intense scale of fires means keeping fire websites sufficiently updated is an impossible task.

Southerly winds on Saturday night from south east across the water rather than from fires in the south west. Our house has survived its second emergency day in less than a week. 😊Earlier that day my husband stayed at home to put check for spot fires. While I, along with my 93yr old Dad-in-law and his 17 yr old dog went to the Moruya evacuation centre, & found a place to park. Friends had a van (no tents allowed to reduce risk of spot fires taking hold) so we set up our blow-up mattress under the van's annex instead of sleeping in our car. The dog, confused and fretting with no normal routine, unwound his tethered lead and ran away and I only realised he was missing when at 2.30ish am I took Dad for one of his late night walks to toilets. I went looking for the dog, tripped over the 'only tuft of grass for kilometres' in the evac centre's temporary campground and fell heavily. My leg and foot were misshapen, an ambulance was called and I was taken to Moruya Hospital. Swollen & bruised left foot, right shin, right hand and finger (xrays came on at 10am, insufficient power for CT or other scans) Left ankle & right shin fortunately showed no broken bones. With fire threat diminished I was home just after midday Sunday.

In the Emergency Department instead of people just waiting we conversed, mainly where are you from, what's happened there? Many stories of loss.Now it's overcast, orange grey sky & smoke, lots of ash & burnt leaves. Just waiting and hoping for rain.Dad's dog was found by an evacuee about 9am and reunited with him.

After surviving the 31 December fire threats, fires loomed very close and ferocious last Saturday (4 Jan). At 7.30am looking north at the top of our street beyond Moruya River the photo shows the southern part of Currowan/Bimbimbie fire before it advanced to Mogendoura and Polwombra later in the day and across to the coast. To the left of photo Bimbimbie, Broulee fires and near Moruya Airport.Many thanks to firies & SES for their dedication beyond exhaustion and what might be happening to their own houses and property.Thanks also to Moruya Evacuation Centre & volunteers.

Electricity (went out Tues 8.30am) restored to Moruya late last night. Our electronics are charging. Limited internet & phone reception here. Other places none at all since 29/30 Dec. Three cars packed. Mick and I staying in Moruya - don't want to be trapped in a 'carpark' of roads out, we're at home until we feel it is advisable to leave with 93 yr old father-in-law Jeff, Ruski dog, neighbour from Tomakin. We will all go to the Bowling Club grassed area (others there including a man with his goats). No RFS update so relying on smell, ash/embers falling, and changes in colour of sky and sounds for our info. Pray to the water spirits for drenching rain everywhere, continue praying for safety and strength of everyone involved in fires throughout Australia, and that action rather than ideology becomes the new norm for the various Federal and State decision-makers. https://myfirewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au

Sometimes it's only in retrospect that you realise what you've achieved. That happened to me recently when I was asked why I wasn't going to participate in a ‘how to write towards publishing a book’ program since I like writing.

Right now, I'm at the final stages of editing "What Glass Ceiling" which is a memoir I’ve been writing based on an extraordinary woman accountant – my mother - who was accepted into the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame. Over the last two months I’ve been busy writing articles for my health column on chronic pain in PnP Authors magazine; two articles for Health Care Consumers Association (HCCA) to be published shortly; a talk on catastrophising and fear in a chronic condition for the HCCA seminar series; drafts of chapters for my Writers’ group novella, with a proposed publication date in a few months; an abstract based on my recent article on Tai Chi and Qi flow published in a Beijing based scientific publication “Life Research” for a “Tai Chi, Qigong and Wushu” conference where I have been invited as guest speaker and panellist; preparation of my talk on spiritual and psychic communication as guest speaker at a Spiritualist meeting in July; and I’ve finished writing a short story to read at a Literary Salon. I’ve also been busy with increased marketing for my book Ethics of a Psychic Reading which is currently discounted.All of this was while I was coping with a severe ongoing health and pain conditions, which also affects my cognitive and language comprehension abilities – causing the written word taking longer to write and to comprehend when reading it.

Since April I’ve been fortunate to travel with my husband to Melbourne, the Northern Territory, as well as Canberra with the latter being multiple times visiting family in hospital and at home, friends and for appointments.

To think that only a few years ago I could barely struggle out of bed due to extreme fatigue, severe pain, and breathing difficulties, let alone socialise, travel, and do all those things that normal healthy people do. Everything I do I have to plan and make back-up plans – but then that’s what happens when coping with extreme hypersensitivities. I’m lucky that I’m surrounded by a lot of good family and friends who support and encourage all my activities, and the groups that I participate in are welcoming of me and my requirements.

Life might be difficult at times when a severe flare-up happens and it takes days, weeks, and even months to recover. But I keep in mind that the half-glass is always able to be filled with whatever I want and focus on, and that anything is possible it’s just a matter of perspective. 😊

Having a reading can give wonderful insights helping to clear confusion, clarify and open up possibilities and options to consider when looking at decisions, changes or even coping mechanisms for a situation that just needs time. A reading should empower you, but what if it doesn't and leaves you feeling helpless and perhaps fearful? My article Ethics, Free Will, and Psychic Advice looks at the responsibilities of both a reader (whether psychic, medium or using divination tools) and a client. It was published on 26th January 2019 in the International Psychic Association's annual magazine on pages 40 and 41www.psychicsdirectoryonline.com.au/

35 years ago no treatment was available to prevent advancing incapacitation. My article is a personal account discussing techniques using Taiji, Chan Si Gong (Reeling Silk), and Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation), thought-processes, methods of practice and the determination needed to enable structural changes to my foot deformities resulting in normal foot shape, and subsequently relief of intense chronic pain.The report and discussion on the treatment principle of Qigong may provide new insights or strategies for the treatment of chronic or persistent pain.

The paper has just been published in the current issue of Life Research, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. You can download the pdf file from the link:Using Qi flow in Taiji effecting structural change in feet and reduced pain: a case reportwww.tmrjournals.com/lr/EN/10.12032/life2019-0125-003

Hello and welcome. December and early January is a time of various religious and spiritual celebrations which bring people together. There are community festivals, family gatherings, with some events lasting a day while others are observed for a week or more. This should be a happy occasion. However, these couple of months can be a source of stress especially for a person who is unwell or suffers chronic pain. How do you travel comfortably? How do you socialise? How do you ensure attention is on the occasion and not on you and your condition? What if you are hosting the event, how do you cope?

I have found that planning for a possible rapid downturn in my condition, by notifying key people in advance of my situation and advising appropriate responses, helps relieve additional stress. Having a family member or friend who can be there for you, if you become unwell or pain escalates, is reassuring. This does not mean that person is constantly on watch, instead they are the first to respond if needed. Nothing will prevent an acute episode but triggers can either be minimised, or if that is not possible then at least psychologically and emotionally prepared for in advance. Preparation does not mean you are being pessimistic! Quite the reverse. It allows you to enjoy the gathering and can put others, who know of your health condition, at ease allowing them also to focus on having a good time. If a situation occurs that exacerbates your illness you have a person or people around who will stay calm, someone who won’t say or infer that you’re ‘just seeking attention’ or 'not again!' thus denying you the assistance you need. It is important to have an ‘escape’ route even if this is just to another room, pre-arranging a lift instead of driving, and having other practical ways to enable you to enjoy the occasion. Post-event can also be factored in, and allows you to recover properly on the following day or days.

Your plan will be different to others, including those with a similar condition. These plans can be, but are not limited to, how much you want to remain involved in the gathering, and whether or not you are able to catch up with family and friends at another time. You might feel guilty, or your energy disappears further as people ask you ‘why’, especially if you stay at one event but leave another early. When there is no visible sign of your pain and discomfort the querying looks or comments can make you feel uneasy about your decision. All of this will have a bearing on staying, coping or dealing with an exacerbation of your illness or pain, or needing to leave – and not feel guilty. Your response to your list of options will vary. Potential impact, that is, how much are you willing to put up with symptoms versus your decision to leave? This becomes individual right down to each event and possibly each moment at that event.

Assessing potential impact, the whole reason I am wishing to attend, is a major component in my focus. This component is factored into my general pre-planning, as well as mini-decisions that I continually make during the gathering when symptoms are triggered and my well-being is compromised.

In having a plan, you are ready with your intention to be involved, to have fun. If things go awry, then you have enjoyed a wonderful time up to that point. Enjoyment which has happened - those are memories to keep. They can’t be taken away or diminished. If the incredible happens and you last the event thank yourself and be true to your post-recovery plans of rest and recuperation.

I look forward to hearing from you about this and anything else you’d like to share with me, to share with all of you. Thank you for all your comments and questions over the past year.

In closing for 2018 I wish you a merry Christmas, happy holidays, Hanukkah Sameach, Solstice and Feast Day blessings and may the season of goodwill and happiness be with you. Safe travels whether to the next suburb or across our beautiful planet.

Thanksgiving Day celebrates, from 1789, the day pioneer founders thanked God for their bountiful harvest in the new land, declared the "United States of America" only 13 years previously. This year midst the turkey and all the trimmings, coping with dynamic family personalities all in one room, will being grateful for the blessings you have received during the year been more than just a mumbled thanks prior to delving into lunch or dinner?

In Australia we don't celebrate the Thanksgiving Day, but historic differences of the actual day aside, here and elsewhere around the globe, you can stop and give gratitude for what you have. Even if life seems to have dealt you badly, pick one thing, just one thing for which you are grateful. If you are struggling this, gratitude might not be for something tangible but for someone or something that has brought you joy, a memory of fleeting smile from a passer-by that brought back a smiggen of happiness to your day, a child's drawing, and yes even a dog or cat image on your social media that raised a grin or even an "aw, how cute" response.

There is much throughout the world which should not be happening: conflicts based on often centuries long feuds; misunderstandings; ideology; greed; personal trauma; or abuse. We are bombarded with fear, and desensitised to the misery these conflicts inflict. So on this Thanksgiving Day, whether in America or elsewhere, spare a thought, a prayer, in whatever manner is comfortable for you, for your blessings and do something positive, however large or small, towards helping alleviate someone else's suffering.

It's already the early hours of the 4th Thursday in Hawaii, and as dawn arises across Americans everywhere, best wishes everyone for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

It is with great delight to announce my mother, Patricia Evans (nee Morris) who was accepted into the NPW Hall of Fame in mid-2017, has now been included in their HerStory Archive. At the age of 21 as the first female accountant of Bitumen Oil Refineries (Australia) Limited (Boral) in 1949 Patricia is considered a pioneer in the male-dominated field of accounting; a further achievement has been included also: “secured a contract amenable to raising children … somewhat unusual in the 1960s.” The direct link to Patricia’s information on the HerStory Archive is: https://pioneerwomen.com.au/herstory2017/woman/evans-patriciaAs mentioned in a previous post, Patricia was further honoured by Boral which celebrated 70 years in 2016 when they profiled Patricia in the December anniversary edition of their journal. Please note the link to the Boral journal has changed. You can now have a look at this article on pages 6 and 7 via: https://www.boral.com/sites/corporate/files/media/field_document/Issue%202%2C%202016.pdf

Over the past five years I have been privileged to be entrusted with Mamma’s memories so that I could write her story. A family history edition of her memoir was printed in time for Mamma’s 90th birthday last December, and this is currently being edited for publication both in print and e-book by the end of 2018 or early 2019.

I’m sure you will join me in congratulating Patricia on her well-deserved recognition.